ADB appoints new country director for Pakistan

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Tuesday announced the appointment of a new country director for Pakistan.

"The Asian Development Bank today announced it has appointed Yong Ye as its new Country Director for Pakistan, effective immediately," read a statement on the bank's website today.

"Mr. Ye will lead ADB’s operations in Pakistan and manage its Pakistan Resident Mission in Islamabad," it added.

The statement further added that "Mr Ye will also oversee the implementation of ADB’s new country partnership strategy 2021-2025, which focuses on improving economic management, building resilience, and boosting competitiveness and private sector development".

“For more than 50 years, ADB has been a steadfast partner of Pakistan, helping to reduce poverty and promote inclusive economic growth,” the statement quoted ADB Director General for Central and West Asia Yevgeniy Zhukov as saying.

“With an in-depth understanding of the economic and cultural environment in Pakistan, strong strategic leadership skills, and the ability to manage complex sovereign and private sector projects effectively, Mr. Ye brings invaluable skills as ADB’s Country Director for Pakistan.”

“I am pleased to lead ADB’s efforts in Pakistan and I look forward to working closely with the government and other development partners to help Pakistan overcome the COVID-19 pandemic, restore economic growth, enhance people’s well-being, and achieve its development goals."

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The communique further said, "Mr Ye has more than 27 years of professional experience in international development finance and government. A national of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), Mr Ye worked as Section Chief at the PRC’s Ministry of Finance before joining ADB in 2000".

"He held a series of increasingly senior positions at ADB, including in the Central and West Asia Urban and Water Operations Division and in the Budget, Personnel, and Management Systems Department. Mr. Ye has been Director of the Central and West Asia Urban and Water Operations Division since 2016."

Ye holds a doctorate in environmental economics, a master’s degree in economics, and a bachelor’s degree in physics from Tsinghua University in the PRC. He succeeds Xiaohong Yang who was recently appointed Chief Thematic Officer in ADB’s Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department.

The communique said Pakistan is a founding member of ADB. Since 1966, ADB has committed more than $36.31 billion to promote inclusive economic growth and improve the country’s infrastructure, energy and food security, transport networks, and urban and social services.

"ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members—49 from the region," it concluded.